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Yang Hao in Conversation: Writing, Translation, and the Changing World. Video and transcript
By Nicky Harman, February 1, '26
On 15 October 2025, Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation hosted a dialogue with Yang Hao, described by The Irish Times as a new voice of Chinese literature. Joined by Irish writer Mark O’Connell, translators Nicky Harman and Michael Day—co-translators of Yang’s Diablo’s Boys. The talk explored how Diablo’s Boys《男孩们》 and The Long Slumber……《大眠》 (several stories from which have just been translated into English) blend virtual and real worlds to break realist boundaries with their "lyrical age" core. The translators shared efforts to preserve Yang’s poetic, labyrinthine prose and narrative ambiguity, while the writers debated stereotypes of Asian literature, advocating for literature to transcend identity and political labels and return to its literary essence.
For the video of the evening's event, click here
To read the transcript of the conversation, click
Dissecting the Douban Best Books of 2025 lists coldwindow.substack.com
"While Douban is by no means representative of all of China, it’s pretty representative of China’s young intellectual class. And in a country with almost no major independent literary prizes or dedicated book review venues, that makes Douban’s annual Best Books of the Year lists a pretty big deal."
- Top books: good year for literary memoir, dismal year for fiction
- Fiction: strong feminist representation in a weak year
- Rapid fire: the rest of the lists
Thanks to Andrew, Cold Winter Newsletter, 18 Dec 2025
Yen Ai-Lin on Bone Skin Flesh www.soas.ac.uk
Event at SOAS, London, on 2 February 2026 - Bone Skin Flesh is the landmark work of Taiwanese poet Yen Ai-Lin. First published in 1997, it drew wide attention for its candid exploration of femininity and its groundbreaking series of erotic poems, making Yen the first female poet in Taiwan to publish such a body of work. Her poetry delves into gender and desire, leaving a lasting impact on readers and contemporary literary discourse. -- Translation by Jenn Marie Nunes (Balestier Press, 2025)
Twenty translators and a typhoon www.newwriting.net
About the ‘Symphony of Island and Literature’ translation workshop at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature (NMTL) in November 2025 - report by Anna Goode
Cold Window Newsletter #11: The best Chinese short fiction of 2025
By Andrew Rule, January 9, '26
Welcome back to the Cold Window Newsletter. I’ve always wished that someone would write an English guide to the best Chinese writing of the year. Now, I get to be the one to do it. Since the beginning of last year, I’ve been on a quest to read every new short fiction collection published in China in 2025. I’m finished, and I’m ready to share.
2025 Roll Call of Chinese Children's Literature in English Translation
By Andrew Rule, January 4, '26
To wrap up our year-end translation roll calls, here's a list of Chinese children's literature translated into English in 2025. As always, if you notice a publication missing, please do let us know so we can add it. And if you are one of the authors or translators listed below but don't yet have a Paper Republic profile page, send us an email. We're always looking to add new profiles so that our translation database stays as complete and up-to-date as possible.
2025 Roll Call of Chinese Prose in English Translation
By Andrew Rule, December 23, '25
The year-end roll calls continue with lists of all the fiction and nonfiction for adults translated from Chinese into English in 2025. Make sure to open the hidden menus to see a list of shorter pieces published online and in journals this year (many of which can be read for free!), as well as the licensed internet fiction that received new volumes in print.
2025 Roll-Call of Chinese Poetry in English Translation
By Andrew Rule, December 22, '25
Another year, another roll call! As has long been tradition at Paper Republic, we're rounding out the year with a list of all the Chinese literature that came out in English translation over the last twelve months. This year's list also includes shorter pieces published online and in magazines and anthologies, making it a more comprehensive snapshot of the state of the field than ever before. Today, we unveil the poetry list, followed by the adult fiction and nonfiction lists tomorrow, and the children's literature list on Wednesday.
Paper Republic Newsletter 24: Counting Down to Christmas
By Yao Lirong, December 10, '25
While we’re counting down to Christmas, we’re also celebrating a number of wonderful updates from our community over the past two months!
We’re delighted to share that Shuang Xuetao's The Hunter, translated by Jeremy Tiang, and Jia Pingwa's Old Kiln, translated by James Trapp, Olivia Milburn, and Christopher Payne, have been included in The Irish Times' “Books of the Year” list. Congratulations to all involved!
We also extend our congratulations to Amadan Ruiqing Flynn for winning the 2025 Golden Point Award for her translation of Liew Kwee Lan’s (艾禺) The Boy Who Cried Bear (《有熊出没》).
And, the good news don't just stop here! Read on below.
Cold Window Newsletter #10: Webfiction as subversion // Literary news bulletins
By Andrew Rule, December 3, '25
Welcome back to the Cold Window Newsletter. In this issue, we approach the end of my 13 Ways of Looking at Chinese Internet Literature series with a close look at online fiction and systems of power in today’s China. Then, a few flash bulletins on this season’s literary awards and releases.
Calling all Paper Republic readers!
By Yao Lirong, November 19, '25
We want to hear from YOU! Help shape the future of Paper Republic by taking our first-ever Community Survey.
Your feedback will directly guide how we grow and improve. It only takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
As a thank you, all participants can join our exclusive WeChat group for a chance to receive red envelopes!
Thank you for being part of our community!
Cold Window Newsletter #9: We need to talk about fan translation
By Andrew Rule, October 23, '25
Welcome back to the Cold Window Newsletter. This issue, a hodgepodge: first, the state of translation in the world of internet fiction; second, reviews of two short-story collections squaring off for a major literary award next week.
As the Leaves Fall, We Gather New Stories | Paper Republic Newsletter #23
By Yao Lirong, October 5, '25
Welcome to our 23rd Paper Republic Newsletter, highlighting key developments from the past quarter. A notable highlight from August’s Women in Translation Month was our feature on translators Annelise Finegan and Nicky Harman and their work with women writers. Subsequently, September’s World Kid Lit Month brought celebratory news: Helen Wang’s translation of Cao Wenxuan’s Bronze and Sunflower has been selected for inclusion in Princeton University Press’s 2025 anthology, Worlds of Wonder: Celebrating the Great Classics of Children’s Literature (Princeton University Press, 2025).
You are invited to read on for more. We hope you enjoy this issue!